St. Landry democrat., 1887-05-07

Il shall forget nothing When do YOU
start?'
"When you leave me-
''There will be no train darling, until
7o'clo,k'
II shall require no train
But how. then. will You 90
Again he bursts into that loud dis
cordant laughter that chills the blood in
her veins.
''Do not be uneasy about me. have
prepared for myself mode Of transit
swiiter than any train. pouf, Steam
will be slow to it,"
"You do not trust me- she SAYS SOP
rowfully, still unsuspecting, sill dead to
the warning that his words. his face, his
manner, should have given her.
I trust you entirely l trust you with
my last message-to her! Now go
II shall see yOn again?" cntreats she,
lingering.
Il hope NOT! I hope from my soul
n0tr'
For the first time his composurc seems
to desert him. He grows gha~tlv pale,
and tit of shivering seiZes upon him.
You are ill--Snu are slitiering,' cries
his mother quickly.
"No. It is nothing. Only 70, I
must lie alone for awhile, and my time is
short. Goodby.
STOPPING, lie presses his lips 10 her fore
head.
For the moment:' she answers anx-
iously.
Good by"
There is no denial of her question in his
manner. and she is fain to be content
with 1t. She clingS to him, and embraces
him warmly; an embrace he returns in
kind. She moves as if to leave him. al
most as she reaches the door his voice
stops her.
cone word,' lie says huskily. DO
not-do not he IInllind 10 her, When
am gone, do not show or feel resentment
toward her"
He makes her sign with his hand to
declare he has said all he had called her
to hear. and z ,ing out, she closes he door
behind her
The sound Of her rctrcating footsteps
has died away. He is aloneI He stretches
out his arms wearily, as one might who
has Just flung from him some cruel bur
den, and drawing back the curtains opens
wide the window and gaZeS out upon the
growing day. Already the sun has
mounted the heavens. and from the ga It
soft rosy bars of tremlllOuS light are de-
scending upon the distant hill tops, From
among the laurelS comes the thrilling
music of innuncrablc birds; from the
wood tie cooling Of the gentle pigeons.
\ rose that has climbed up the wall, more
ambitious than its fellows. thrusts its
scented petals into his hand.
Mechanically he accepts the gift. and
breaking the flower from its stem. inhales
its perfume. II is sweet with dew, and
sweet as only Il morning rose can he. with
all the cool moisture of the dead past
night still on it. and buried in it> heart.
Boyle. still as if without thought, having
tritleu with the flower. carries il tn IL table
near aud puts out his hand toward Il vase
filled with water. The action rolISes him.
He checks himself, and after Il brief
pause filings the flower upon the ground.
He had been about to place il in the
water with II view TO its preservation
when that revlllsion of feeling came over
him. To save it from instant destruction
why? That he might see it upon the
The morrow Where will he
be then?
He sets his heel upon the flower and
crushes it out of all lovelineSs. Death is
rushing ,ward him on swift black wings
shall that senseless flower be spared
1t is a very poor, Il very paltry bit OF
malice, yet it nerves him. and brings him
again face to face with his iudomitable
resolve.
Crossing the room, he opens a case
lying upon bureau and draws from it a
revolver He runs his hand lightly over
no nf ha 81 al
to steady him. Having assured himseli
that it is loaded, he lays it down again
and turns to writing table.
His hand is firm. the writing bold az
ever. A few words, explaining where the
famous sapphires now dismantled and
unseD may be found in his rooms in town, |
are addressed to his mother. Bold words, !
with no endearing commencement. no af |
fectionate termination. To him the sap |
phires are of no further use. Itis rs well
that Millicsnt should have them again. |
He filings the pen aside, and, rising tC |
his feet. PAGES hlrriedly up and down the |
room. He can walk now. But like q |
fash it bursts upon him that soon move |
ment will be impossible There upon the !
carpet he lies like stick-a stone, The |
great grand fever of living is tearing
tHIOtiSH HIS Wills IIlS putStS ihiob' iiAS
heart beats-there are years of life within
the tall, slender, firmly built frame that
looks its last through the open window.
The early morning air, fresh and fragrant,
rushes gayly in. Heavens! how fair the
world is. Was it ever 50 fair as to-day?
He takes up the revolver again and lifts
t to his mouth. There is short hesita-
ion. His mind travels backward. His
brain reels. There there! she is be-
ore him again A slight form, clothed
Ill in palest blue. A face divine! HeI
ovely arms! Her eyes-lark-liquid.
See, now, they CLEAN for-Duran! Curse
lim! To him she holds out her hands.
70 him she gives herself. She turns
A groan of agonized remembrance
,ursts from his lips. Then follows
harp report 1t rings through the house,
1e sways, and a corpse, disfgured in a
lorrible manner, falls heavily to the